founder

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A person who starts an organization, company, school, or movement.

   Grammar: Often used with of: the founder of the company.

   Patterns

   • the founder of something
   • founder and CEO

   The founder of the charity began it in her garage.

   He is the founder and chief executive of a software firm.

   Its founders hoped the club would outlive them.

2. 2verbintransitiveformal

   To fail completely or collapse, especially after good progress, because of problems or lack of support.

   Grammar: No object: the plan foundered. Often followed by on or because of.

   Patterns

   • founder on something
   • founder because of something

   Peace talks foundered when both sides rejected the compromise.

   The business foundered after its biggest customer left.

   Their marriage foundered under the pressure of constant moves.

3. 3verbintransitive

   Of a ship, to fill with water and sink.

   Grammar: No object: the ferry foundered in the storm.

   Patterns

   • founder in/on something

   The ship foundered on the rocks during a gale.

   Several fishing boats foundered in the night.

   The overloaded barge foundered in a mile of calm water.

Word forms

Common combinations

company founder

The company founder still attends every board meeting.

founding father

The founding fathers wrote the constitution.

co-founder

She is the co-founder of a language-learning app.

founder member

He was a founder member of the club.

founder on the rocks

The tanker foundered on the rocks near the coast.

Synonyms and how they differ

creator

Creator is broader and can refer to anything made, while founder refers to starting an organization.

originator

Originator focuses on the idea's source, not the setting up of a group the way founder does.

establisher

Establisher is rare and sounds stiff, whereas founder is the normal word.

fail

As a verb, fail is the everyday word, while founder implies a slow collapse or sinking after some progress.

Opposites

Word family

found verb

to set up an organization

foundation noun

the base of something, or an organization set up with funds

founding noun

the act of establishing something

cofounder noun

one of several people who start a company together

Commonly confused: founder or flounder?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “founder”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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